Yardbirds Ultimate - Yardbirds (The)

Advantages: Hearing what then were the guitar legends of the future
Disadvantages: None

...The band to start all bands...This album contains the best from the Yardbirds throughout time including tracks with Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck when they were with the band. The songs which stand out are ultimately FOR YOUR LOVE, HEART FULL OF SOUL, EVIL HEARTED YOU, SHAPES OF THINGS, THE TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN', AIN'T GOT YOU AND SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING but loads more are included on this double album set. Many bands have been influenced by this British Premier R&B rock band yet they covered their fair share of great artists themselves. Blues legend tracks - John Lee Hooker's BOOM BOOM and Jimmy Reed's BABY WHATS WRONG are also included. This is a great way to hear what ultimately is the best of the Yardbirds.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great Album
Disadvantages: Many Fans Didn't Like This New Direction

...This album combines the electronic keyboard sounds which Anderson had been dabbling around with on A with more traditional heavy rock and folk elements to produce some trademark Tull songs including Pussie Willow, Broadsword and Beastie. This was a definite return to form for the band. This album was the first Tull album not to be produced by Anderson but by ex Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith. The album features something for everyone and is one of the bands most original works. It is also reminiscent of some of Uriah Heeps work.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: key tracks from Led Zeppelin I & II
Disadvantages: remastered many times since

...Taking tracks from Led Zeppelin I and II this album shows how timeless their music remains. The first album is in a way very different from what was to follow and stylistically owes a lot to Jimmy Page's previous band, The Yardbirds. Even Page's trademark guitar, the Les Paul, is missing from the first album which was recorded mainly with a psychedelicly painted Telecaster (which now resides on the wall of the Hard Rock Cafe, Whistler). From the start though, its clear to hear the tightness of the band. Every member, from John Paul Jones' locked in bass playing to Robert Plant's howling vocals fit together perfectly in this mix of blues and hard rock. Many of the acoustic to rock switches that Page incorporates into later classics like Stairway to Heaven can be first heard here too.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful